The Church Bear

This is what she said: "Right at the bottom of your driveway, that's where I saw it. I tell you it was huge, a huge black bear!"

This is how she looked when she said it. Big ol' eyes. Her arms outstretched. She's been here in the Wilderness for a while, and even she was impressed. 

"Can I kill it with a B-B gun?" That's me, asking the stupid.

She just laughed, thinking I was making a joke, but I wasn't. It's all we had for firepower. The day before, a timberwolf glided across my land in broad daylight. Sharp teeth there, so I'd already been considering the potency of our weapon. 

Wolves. Big, sharp-toothed wolves. Bears. Big, hungry bears.

She told me right before church. Bad timing, I didn't get much out of the sermon.

"Blessed are the peacemakers."

Kill the bear, kill the bear.

"Blessed are the merciful."

Kill the bear, kill the bear.

But can I? What if I get a gun? Can I shoot a bear just for hanging out? 

Offering plate goes by here. I hand my check to my boy and he folds it, flutters it into the money dish. My other boy adds a few pennies. Much louder.

I mean, what if said bear strolls up to the house, stretches out, and takes a nap. Can I plug it? Stick a gun to it's giant, peaceful head and plug it? Maybe not the B-B gun. Some other gun. Doesn't seem fair, but the thought of a tremendous bear on my land with my kids . . .

"So, how are we to be merciful?" That's the pastor again, complicating my life with decisions.

Amazing Grace begins. They're all standing. I'm sitting, head in hands. Merciful. Plug the Bear. Mercifully plug the bear. But the kids, my kids. But I haven't even seen the bear. The phantom bear. 

. . .that saves a wretch like me . . .

Let the bear live, I whisper. Yes, I should let it live. I've had stuffed bears since childhood. My kids have stuffed bears. I will be a merciful man! I will be kind to the bear. Viva la bear! Viva la bear!

I jump to my feet and smile to the others in the pew. At my family. At the pastor. . .I once was lost but now I'm found . . . It's all so clear. 

We file out of sanctuary, pile into the mini-van . . .

Went out and got me a gun. 

Comments

[Anna McFarland]

Haha. Yeah, protect kids or chance it with a bear. No brainer:)

[Kristi Butler]

Hi Jonathan!! I haven't checked in on you in awhile. So glad I did. You always make me smile.

Funny, we were on the same wavelength...well, almost...bears for you, squirrels for me...wilderness man, city woman! www.kristibutler.blogspot.com

Blessings, my friend!